Second City Cop

Sarcasm and Silliness from a Windy City Cop

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Open thread for Friday

Once again, an open post for any and all comments, questions, rumors, etc. We'll publish all the changes if we see them and answer any questions posed if we are able. Any topics you'd like to see? Post it here and we might devote a whole thread to it. It's all anonymous. We'll be checking in and posting over the weekend, so bookmark us and check in later. The hit counts and page views are going up, so people must be interested a little bit.

Words to live by...or be amused by

The quote posted at the bottom of the right hand column is a small snippet of a larger passage known as "Mencken's Creed." Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) is recognized as one of America's most prominent journalists when being a journalist actually meant something. Frequently bumping heads with the east coast establishment, he penned many a satirical passage lambasting the powers that be. He is labeled more as a libertarian than a conservative and despised politicians, evangelists, Puritans of all stripes, and stupidity in all forms. He is one of the more politically incorrect commentators of the human condition. The rest of the creed is as follows:

I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking.

I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious.

I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon liberty...

I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and deserves no more respect.

I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech...

I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.

I believe in the reality of progress.

I - But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant.

Rumors, we've got rumors

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Stepping on your d***

Otherwise known as "How to keep your damn fool mouth shut."

Rumor has it (and this is only a rumor) that a certain LieutenantActing Commander was bragging around that he was going to get the Commander's spot in either 004, 005 or 153 (SOS.) This LT had the date of this upcoming promotion and everything all lined up. Now, the word filtering down from 35th Street is that the only way this LT is going to get promoted is if the Superintendent resigns or dies. True? Not True? Who knows?!!? The lesson here though is "Shut the f*** up if you're going to get something soon and it ain't on paper yet."

Don't know how we missed this story

Got to the Metro section of the Tribune last Wednesday (22 June) and saw an article titled "Corrupt Cop earns Leniency." Since the online Trib requires registration and the article is a week old anyway, we'll just quote from Rudolph Bush's article...

"Myers (lawyer for the cop) argued that Polk's (the corrupt Forest Preserve cop in question) cooperation was absolute. That includes an ongoing effort "involving a thoroughly corrupt Chicago police officer that has yet to be arrested," he added."

We'd hope that this was just a misquote and CPD wasn't involved, but when you read the laundry list of persons he helped to convict (including two Illinois parole agents, two Cook County sheriffs, two Robbins POs, a former Seattle detective and a CSX railroad cop) along with other info, we'd say it's time to batten down the hatches for another corruption scandal.

Rumors!

We love rumors. It's just a fact of life in the Department that rumors make everything interesting. Plus, it gives us something to type when everything else is boring.

Rumblings from the Academy and 35th Street are as follows - 25 Captains shortly, followed by 50 to 70 Lieutenants. This Lieutenant number seems high, but maybe the retirements hit them harder than they thought? In August, we should see a class of 100 Sergeants. Whether or not this is a promotion date or a date that they'll be doing Detective ride-alongs remains to be seen. Perhaps someone from the D-units can ask around and see if their bosses have heard anything? No word on a final class of Dicks before the new test results come out or if they're going to trash the test. Rumor also has it that there is going to be a purge at the Academy. The new ADS is going to bring in a whole sh**load of new people.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Supreme Court decision

We are aware that not everyone follows politics and world events as intently as we do, but some people do. And this seemed interesting enough that it might pique the interest of street coppers who might not otherwise see it.

The Supreme Court decision in the case of Castle Rock, Colorado v Gonzalez says that police CANNOT be sued for how they enforce restraining orders. Mrs. Gonzalez alleged that police did not do enough to prevent her estranged husband from taking her children from in front of her home in 1999 in violation of a restraining order. Mr. Gonzalez was killed in a shootout with police hours later outside of a police station with the bodies of all three girls in his nearby truck. Police contended that they did everything possible going to Gonzalez's home, attempting to contact him by cell and home phone and issuing a local alert for the truck.

I think (note the word THINK) that this is the right decision. The police appeared to make a legal and sound effort to locate Gonzalez following the abduction. A piece of paper isn't going to stop a determined individual from wreaking havoc and municipalities can't be expected to assign a car to every order of protection that gets issued (especially in a major urban area.) I am open to argument on this one, but remember, it's a fact that you can't possibly put a cop on every single street corner in this city, county, state or country to protect everyone all the time.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Imagine that...

they're re-opening lockups? Gosh, golly, gee whiz! Who'd have thunk it? The city runs a half-assed study by some goofs that says certain lockups are under-utilized and ought to be closed so you can redeploy the coppers inside to street duty. Hmmm.

Any gamblers out there? Didn't lockup used to be a biddable spot? Are they going to give it to the guys that they tossed out onto the watches or did they all retire? My money is on at least ONE FOP grievance regarding the spots now needing to be filled. And more civilian keepers.

Answering comments as best as we can

Hello all. We've returned and checked out the comments section. We have heard next to nothing on test results for the latest incarnation of the detectives exam. The only rumors we've heard are regarding the cancellation of the results.

Rumor #1 has the test being thrown out because someone downtown discovered a "souper-seekret" study group in progress during regular working hours. We basically discount this rumor because the person discovering such a group would have to name names for a formal grievance. This would make them decidedly unpopular at 35th Street and besides, it would be easy to buy them off (OK, you caught us, here's a meritorious spot in the first class to drop it.)

Rumor #2 has the test being tossed because the city refused to have a "challenge" session following years and years of having one. As the "challenge" session was explained to us once, you can appear before a test committee and plead your case for a certain answer to be considered correct (or more correct) as opposed to the one they have chosen to be correct. At the most, they agree with you or they toss the question from consideration in the final score. This rumor would seem to have more meat to it as the "challenge" session has been utilized before (precedent.) Also, we don't know if the challenge sessions gave the city a better chance to massage their numbers for minority promotions, but we've learned the city never does anything that benefits the guys and gals who aren't connected, so the fact that they are discontinuing it speaks volumes.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Weekend publishing

We're taking a short break from writing here. We'll be back Sunday while we relax during this hot weekend. Use this thread or the one below for comments, questions, commentary or just writing on the wall. We've already sent out a little publicity reminder that we're here in an effort to boost traffic and we'll gauge the results Monday.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Once again, an open thread

Post away boys and girls and those of indeterminate gender. I'm going to try to send out a little publicity material once again and see if we can't get the traffic numbers up a little higher next week and maybe a little more activity in the comments sections. It's all anonymous people!

Response to comments

A quote in the comments section by "theleftisthebest:"

"That's right, moderator, everything GOP is good, and everything Democratic is bad. Aren't you doing the same thing you condemn members of the Democratic Party?Let's face it, politicians in BOTH parties could give a rat's a** about the working man (or woman). Remember, it was the Democratic Party that paved the way for unions, otherwise we'd all still be working for the George Pullmans of the world."

I never said "everything GOP is good, and everything Democratic is bad" and attacks of this sort are tiresome. I have dozens of problems with the republican party. In Illinois, there is no republican party anymore. Dick Daley and George "pardon em all" Ryan have seen to that. You can't tell a republi-crat from a demo-publican nowadays. Every politician got what they wanted in the Illinois First program 4 or 6 years ago and the tax payer got screwed. On the national level, I have huge problems with the federal judiciary and illegal immigration and the pandering to false patriotism with the flag burning amendment and the expansion of government bureaucracy under a republican president and congress.

What I am condemning in the democratic party is an inability to come up with IDEAS. Anyone can say "no" all the time. Ever sat with a room full of 3 years olds? It accomplishes NOTHING, which is exactly what the dems nowadays are doing. Nothing. "Bush bad, Dean good" means nothing. Cutting and running in Iraq does nothing. Name calling in general accomplishes NOTHING.

And yes, I am aware that, in general, members of both parties care little for the working man/woman. But it is my opinion that republican policies IN GENERAL benefit ME more than democratic ones. I like keeping more of my salary. I like strong sentencing guidelines. I enjoy free trade and low prices.

And yes, I am aware of the history of the unions. I am also aware that they have become vast sources of unpaid volunteers and soft money contributions for the democratic party and have long LONG ago ceased to represent the interests of the working man and woman...or haven't you seen where five of the largest unions have voted to pull out of the AFL-CIO to protest (among other things) their unions political activism? When the largest portion of your unionized workforce is government employees rather than the manufacturing sector, you know the time of the union has passed.

rant warning ahead!

If it isn’t obvious to the readers, my politics lean decidedly to the right. Part of this is the natural inclination of police to be conservative in general. Part is my upbringing in a police family. Part is the cynical response to the Chicago and Cook County political systems. And part is just being an ornery kind of human being.

If you’ve followed Dick "Turban" Durbin’s attack on the US military and subsequent half assed apology, you know I’m unhappy with him. Now the left claims that Karl Rove’s recent comments are equal to Durbin’s slander and are demanding retractions. Columnist Michelle Malkin and blogger Captain’s Quarters cover the story thoroughly. Here’s what was said:

"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." - Karl Rove

How is that even remotely comparable to what Durbin said? Or anything Howard Dean has said recently about republicans never having held a real job, looking the same and being a white Christian party? Or Harry Reid calling Bush a loser and a liar? Or anything coming out of Ted Kennedy's mouth? THIS is what passes for political discourse in the democratic party? You aren’t truly an opposition party unless you come up with ideas and reasons and can convince the American people that you have something to contribute to the discussion. This is just childish.

Movement of exempts again

The Education and Training Division is getting a new ADS, probably the commander of the Special Operations Section. Chasen's name is being bandied about for other movement as well as a TRU lieutenant for Commander of SOS. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: confirmation of Commander Tobias moved from SOS to ADS of the Education and Training Division. That's the only change we know of.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Abel Presas (spelling?) and Mary West are retiring. There are now about 7 exempt openings. What with the LTs meritorious letter out and the Captains resumes downtown since April, there would seem to the opportunity for numerous changes before summer is out.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Rumors, we've got rumors

Meritorious Lieutenants letter is out. Rumor has it that the meritorious letter for sergeants is only a few short weeks away. Maybe two weeks or so, the thinking being that since the LT's only go to school for 3 weeks, they can start the sergeants up with their 2 weeks "detective familiarization" courses around the same time or immediately after. FINALLY, they look like they are going to promote from the top down to see what their real shortages are. Now if they'd just hire the 1,000 guys they are short...

Hypocrisy on the Left

OK. See if you recognize this quote: "I call on those who question the motives of the president and his national security advisers to join with the rest of America in presenting a united front to our enemies abroad."

Guess who? Go on...ask your friends. Guess who?

Answer: Senator Dick "Turban" Durbin, circa 1998 while Bill Clinton was lobbing cruise missles and sending the USAF into northern Iraq during Operation Desert Fox. This from the same bozo who compares the running of Gitmo to some of the more infamously engineered massacres in history. But a Republican is in charge this time and he's not trying to cover up some knob-job from an intern. He's actually getting stuff done. I guess it all depends on who's in the White House for old Durbin, eh? THIS is why the left is morally bankrupt.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Durbin apologizes...sort of

So Dick Durbin finally went to the floor of the Senate where he had so recently slandered the US military, then denied it, then stood by his remarks and kind of apologized. What he said was "Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line, and to them I extend my heartfelt apologies." After a weeks worth of beatings from the political right, he finally caved. Why? Because Mayor Daley told him to, plain and simple. Yes, the mayor may be weakened by his own political scandals and looming federal indictments, but he hasn't forgotten how to read a political poll and tell which way the wind is blowing. Following the recruit graduation of today's date, the mayor was quoted "I think it's a disgrace to say that any man or woman in the military act like that.'' Please note that he is about the only big name democrat in the country to repudiate Durbin.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Meritorious letter is out

...for Lieutenants. If you are a Sergeant who wants to use that "whack," "clout," or "chinaman" to make LT, and you are currently on the eligible list, start putting together that resume and burning up those phone lines. Paperwork is due down at 35th Street on or before 18 July. Good Luck.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Racial Profiling in the news

Not too many people read the Saturday Tribune. It's usually a throw away type edition as the Sunday paper is usually published and on the news stands by noon or 2 pm Saturday. But as many old coppers and City Hall hands know, if you want to bury a story, release it around 4pm on Friday. All the politicos are out of the office and don't have to answer any questions until Monday and the secretaries left at 3. That's why I always read it carefully. So it is with the racial profiling numbers report.

Special Employment Question

Hello anonymous commentator! Although I don't have a real answer for your Special Employment question (I'll post my guess at the bottom), I'll just post this for everyone's information. A "blog" or "web-log"isn't like a the previous Second City bulletin board where anyone can start a topic and comment on it. Only the blog owner can start a new thread, the most recent one at the top. However, I leave the comments open for everyone to comment on. I think if enough people comment or question a certain topic, I'll give it it's own thread. As yours was the first question posed, it will have its own thread.

My guess is everything is leaning "numbers oriented." Right now, the District Commanders meet up and submit a list of "Deployment" areas and the DOC assigns them priorities based on calls for service, shootings, complaints, alder-weasels phone calls. Special Operations and TRU are assigned these DOC areas as primary missions. Operation Closed Market also works these as high visibility patrols. I think that the more activity they can show in a DOC area (Special Employment numbers), the more the Department can claim to their political masters that the "do more with less" philosophy is working (as we are down 1,000 coppers right now). And the politicians can go back to the people and brag about how many more officers are working their neighborhoods. Anyone else have a guess? Comments are always open and always anonymous.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Dick Durbin's non-apology

Captain's Quarters is one of my favorite blogs. I hope one day to be a quarter or even half the writer and commentator he is. He's listed in the right hand column of 'blogs that I read every single day. Today, he covers Senator Durbin's non apology, which is so very typical of the left side of the political spectrum - "we know better than you dumb red-state hicks." Newsflash Dick - if it wasn't for the democrat stranglehold on Cook County and East St. Louis, Illinois could very well be a red state.

UPDATE: I'm still trying out different software on the blog here...currently, I'm attempting to enable "Trackbacks", so comments and such are going to be hinky for a bit.

UPDATE #2: OK, Haloscan sucks so I uninstalled it. Thank goodness I can read and write code after about 3 tries. If you ever decide to blog, test drive everything you can find

Friday night open thread

Comment as you wish. I'm surfing the 'net right now looking for stuff to comment on. Did anyone see the "Reader's Digest" top 50 cities to live/work in? Chicago was dead last. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Seriously, dead last. Behind New York? Puh-lease. Granted, we're run by a crooked set of politicians giving away taxpayer money hand over fist to Outfit connected companies, but a little reality check here. We ain't dead last on a list of 50. Sheesh.

UPDATE: I've noticed a few comments here and there (OK, maybe 3 comments total) and I'm looking forward to more. Tell your friends! Tell your drinking buddies! I figure with over 10,000 guys and gals on this job, we gotta have SOME eyeballs who might like to comment. Again, it's all ANONYMOUS! Just check the "anonymous" box in the comments. Or, make yourself up a "nom de guerre" like on the old SecondCity board. Feedback is the lifeblood of any website, and I'd like to see what other people think or want to hear about.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Rant warning ahead!

Dick Durbin, once again, completely embarrasses himself, the democratic party, the State of Illinois and the United States. I really couldn’t care less how much he humiliates the democrats. Goofs like Durbin, Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi can spout off all they want...it only helps the Republicans. But I’m embarrassed that this State sent him to Washington when he is so out of touch with reality. He actually compares the treatment of al-Qaeda prisoners to the Nazi concentration camps (12 million dead) , the Soviet gulags (15-30 million dead) and the Pol Pot regime of Cambodia (2 million out of 6 million total population dead).

What has this guy been smoking?

Little reality check for Dick: The number of prisoners who have died by neglect or homicide in Gitmo is ZERO. Any other number you hear is amnesty international bullshit, pure and simple. Secondly, all the prisoners in Gitmo are not criminals and they are not prisoners of war; they are terrorists and unlawful combatants captured on the field of battle. During WWII’s "Battle of the Bulge," the United States Army captured numerous German soldiers wearing American and British uniforms infiltrating the lines. These prisoners were lined up and shot ON THE SPOT. No trials, no hearings, no anything. The History Channel has the footage and runs it regularly. Frankly, the Army could have done the same thing in Afghanistan and Iraq and most Americans wouldn’t have cared, but that wasn’t my call.

I for one, trust the military to make these types of decisions. They’re the guys on the ground, the tip of the spear. I know a bunch of coppers who have gone overseas these past years, and all have returned safely so far. Durbin is not only insulting the US and the military as a whole, he’s cracking on people I know, trust and respect. The Republican Party of Illinois should be all over this (if there truly is a Republican Party in Illinois anymore). At the very least, the state and local FOP lodges better not be endorsing Durbin any time soon.

Black vest cover

According to sources buried deep in the bowels of 35th Street, the Superintendent intends on making the black vest cover an optional equipment item. This has been a point of contention for years with the Inspection Division because it made for an easy mover for them, while the guys on the front lines got sick and tired of having to wash the blue covers every night when they got home or else look like a hobo at roll call and risk getting tagged by the Inspectors again for being dirty. No word yet on a start date for the covers or if it will be some kind of "only with (A) will you wear (B)." We shall see.

Open Thread

Friday, June 10, 2005

the RETRO checks are IN!

Yes, you read that correctly, the Retro checks are in. They're sitting down at 35th Street right now in the office of a certain ADS. We've had numerous eyewitness reports who have laid eyes on the checks and 35th Street is abuzz. Should we expect them next week or are we going to be sitting around waiting for OUR MONEY that is due to us by contract until the last day of the deadline (28 June)??

UPDATE: Hooray! Retro checks will be distributed on payday. These are all checks - no direct deposit. You will have to go in and sign for your check at your unit.

Sun Times Headline

Is anyone really shocked to see City workers indicted? Even for selling heroin? You put a bunch of political payrollers in no-show jobs, clocking in for one another, you can bet your bottom dollar that they're going to find something else to occupy their time and make money at it. This is Clout in action. Big Time Clout. People who don't even care that the whole sheebang is in the middle of a Federal investigation. Or just a bunch of dumb mo-fos.

I'm more disheartened at the lack of outrage from the taxpayers. We (and yes, I include myself in this category) have become too damn complacent in what we do and don't expect from local government. Hired Trucks ($40 million pissed away)? ::yawn:: No-Show jobs at the Water Department (and they sell heroin)? ::snore:: Union leaders 20 year old children drawing paychecks as qualified Building Inspectors? ::mmff - are the Bears on yet?:: And, looking away from the City for a nanosecond, Stroger and his people spending $2,000 per head to go to Hawaii to "convince" other County heads from the entire country to attend the next meeting in Chicago in 2006. Chicago has already been approved as the site of the next convention by resolution, so I think attendence is guaranteed. Hey John? What about that $120 million dollar hole in your budget?? Besides Chicago, has anyone seen a BIGGER money waster than the Cook County government (include the Forest Preserve District here also)? I mean, even their golf courses lose money, and that's hard to do for anyone.

You can bet that if the mayor and his people ran again tomorrow, they'd probably still win. Hell, if the republicans can't even field a primary candidate to run UNOPPOSED, all Daley has to do is win a primary.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

I SEE YOU!

OK, I can't really see you, but the hit counter goes up a little at a time, so I know we've got visitors. Don't be shy about commenting on stuff. It's all completely anonymous. Just click the "comments" button, check the "anonymous" box and fire away. Posting is slow because of the heat and busy schedule. No rumors on the horizon, which means either (a) something is in the works or (b) nothing is happening. I think that covers about 100% of the possibility spectrum.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Half assed reorganization

They STILL haven't figure out what sections are controlling what divisions (or is it divisions controlling sections?) and who's reporting to who. What is it with this Department? Someone gets some bright f#$%ing idea to reorganize 10% of the manpower and it goes on for three days PLUS the weekend. Are they sleepwalking through this entire thing? I need that boss's job; I can sleepwalk through work with the best of them. Would it help at all to maybe think this through and put it on paper AND have a meeting or two BEFORE pulling the trigger on it? Yeah, most of it's paperwork and nothing ever changes in the Department. But alot of it involves restructuring the way we do things. Important things. Whatever I suppose.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Going Live

Well, we think we have the basics down for blogging. We can at least operate this simple platform. There are a number of posts that people can go back to, read and comment on, to see if they might want to come back to check us out occassionally. Now, we have to generate traffic. A few minor tweaks and we're good to go. We'll try to publish at least one worthwhile item a day, more if possible. Comments will be open for the time being and E-mail is operational.

An interesting book

When Corruption was King; by Robert Cooley with Hillel Levin

You want to know how this City works? Read this book. Yeah, Cooley comes off as a bit of a whiner at the end, claiming the feds never gave him enough credit for what he accomplished, his always wanting to get one more corrupt judge, aldercreature or bookie, but it's the feds! They never give anyone credit for anything that even remotely works, just like they can't blame anyone else fast enough when their shit hits the fan. You think Cooley would have figured this out when he was a Chicago cop WAAAAAY before he became a crooked lawyer in the First Ward. Never NEVER trust the feebs. Even when you're working with them. All in all though, a very insightful look into the Cook County judicial scandals of the late 70's early 80's. Cooley names names of quite a few people still in power, still practicing law, still raking in taxpayer money. Evidently, the book went to press late enough (2004) that they were able to get in a little preview of the Hired Truck scandal still in the news today. Fun fun fun Chicago style.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Still openings and promotions

There are still a few openings that weren't filled. And we're due for a bunch of promotions (piggy-move-up.) The retirements are coming fast and furious and the shortages are still to be felt. I must confess that I'm shocked at the new Chief of Detectives. It'll be interesting to see how the detectives take her leadership. I'm still digesting the TRU and SOS being stripped away from Patrol Division. Seems D/C Chiezewski is getting the Mounted, Marine and Central Detention portions of Special Functions; so his fief is growing while D/C Radke's and Chief Maurer's are shrinking.

CORRECTION: Central Detention is going to the 001 District, not Central Control Group

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

The changes - Official

Promotions

Molloy - out as Chief of Detectives - promoted to Deputy Superintendent Crime StratagiesWilliams - out as Deputy Chief of Area 4 - promoted to D/S Strategic DeploymentMaher - out as D/C Area 5 - promoted to Chief of DetectivesSkahill - out as Cmdr 007 - promoted to D/C of Patrol DivisionKehoe - out as Cmdr Forensics - promoted to D/C Field Group CChristian - out as Cmdr 017 - promoted to D/C Area 5Dulay - promoted to Cmdr 017Patterson - promoted to Cmdr 007Lewin - promoted to Cmdr Information Services

Lateral moves

Day - moved from D/C Field Group C to ADSJohnson - moved from ADS to D/C Area 4

Rumors become reality

Lots of changes being leaked out of 35th Street, but nothing on paper that I've been able to locate yet. Some of the changes (none verified yet, some may change - this isn't rocket science, it's rumors!):

Here's the BIGGEST change of all- Charles Williams, formerly Deputy Chief Area 4, promoted to Deputy Superintendent of the newly created Bureau of Strategic Deployment. Nothing on paper yet, but it looks like this is going to be either a completely NEW Bureau or a renamed Staff Services. Supposedly, Special Operations will be under this new Bureau along with Targeted Response Unit. This will entail stripping them OUT of Special Functions and OUT of Patrol Division.

This appears to be a huge loss for the Patrol Division. TRU was Maurer's baby and a BIG revenue generator. Special Operations is 3% of the Department's manpower recovering 10% of the guns per year. By removing both from Maurer's direct control, is he being shown the door? Could this be the culmination of the mysterious Starks/Maurer battles? Stay tuned.

Pension questions

Am I the only one who is a little nervous about what is happening in Springfield this week? As I understand it, Blago and the boyz are defering payment to the (non-Chicago) Teacher's pension funds and spending the "savings" on other pet projects. As the republican party in Illinois has ceased to be anything other than a lapdog to the democrats, no one is raising much of a fuss aside from a lone voice pointing out that this is like putting future payments to the fund on an 18% interest credit card. How soon until this bad idea spreads to City pension funds?

Car chase

Shooting today in 011. Someone MUST have on-viewed the thing, because the watch got into a HUGE car chase and Car 44 actually let the chase go on. And on. And on. This chase went down the Ike, down the Ryan, through Bridgeport/Canaryville, around Comisky, back onto the Ryan, the Kennedy, thru Hubbard's Cave and the offender actually ended up like under half a mile from the scene of the original shooting (Iowa/Drake) when he bailed. Ballsy move by the Area 4 D/C when most Sergeants, Lieutenants and Captains are hesitant to let a chase go 4 blocks - this one went 15 or 20 miles easy. Always nice to see a boss let his guys do the job they were hired to do instead of hamstringing them.